1. Oakland Athletics
While they might not have the best record in baseball, their past week is the reason they are at the top spot. They have a 35-24 record, and went 3-1 against the Giants, 3-0 against the Red Sox, and are now facing the struggling Brewers. After the Brewers, they go to Chicago to face the White Sox in a four game series.
2. St Louis Cardinals
It is the Cardinals who hold the best record in baseball at 38-19. Their week was not as impressive as the A’s, so they land just shy of the top spot at second. They went 3-1 against the Royals and 2-1 against the Giants; both teams who are on the decline. With the Diamondbacks and Reds on the schedule for this week the Cardinals have a chance to prove themselves and bump the A’s out of the top spot.
3. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are still holding strong to their lead in the AL East. However, the Orioles and Yankees are on their tail at 2.5 games back, and even Tampa Bay is in the chase at three games back. Going 2-1 against New York this past week definitely helped keep their lead, and so should series’ against the Rangers and Angels.
4. Atlanta Braves
The Braves just continue to baffle me, staying so consistent at the top despite majorly cooling off. The lead the NL East and are seven games ahead of the Nationals. After struggling and splitting their series with the Blue Jays, the Braves regained their momentum and beat the Nationals 2-1. Facing the Pirates and Dodgers this week ,their dominance isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
5. Cincinnati Reds
Even though the Reds aren’t leading their division (playing in a division with the Cardinals is a little tough) they still find themselves in the top five of my power rankings. They are also 36-22, and went 4-3 this past week. Their week included splitting with the Indians, going 2-1 against the Pirates and are now currently facing the Rockies. They are only 2.5 games back in the NL Central, and a crucial series against the Cardinals this week could be the factor that puts them on top.
6. Texas Rangers
The Rangers are just barely hanging on to their lead of the AL West. They currently lead the Athletics’ by 1.5 games. They went 3-2 this past week, including going 1-2 against the Diamondbacks and 2-1 against the Royals. They now face the Red Sox, in which they have lost game one.
7. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are still holding strong with their lead in the NL West. They are two games ahead of the Giants, but after an average week they could see that lead dropping. They went 4-3, including going 2-1 against the Rangers, and then 2-1 against the Cubs. They start the week against the red hot Cardinals, which will definitely be a series to watch.
8. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates might be third in their division, but they have a record that puts them in the top ten of the list. They are 35-23, and 3.5 games behind the Cardinals. They went 3-1 against the Tigers, lost their series to the Reds, and now face the Braves.
9. Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles have had a positive week. They went 4-2, including going 3-1 against the Nationals in the Battle of the Beltways. Rookie pitcher Kevin Gausman had a successful outing and closer Jim Johnson is back to normal. Chris Davis is still on fire and still leads the league in homeruns. The O’s look to have the tools to go after the AL East crown.
10. New York Yankees
There is just more bad news for the Yankees. There is still numerous injuries, and today is comes out Alex Rodriguez might get suspended for his use of performance enhancing drugs. The Yankees still are in the hunt for the AL East, 2.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox. They had an unimpressive series against the Mets, in which they were swept. They have a chance to improve as they face the Indians this week.
11. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have proven they are a force to be reckoned with in the AL East. They are sitting at 31-26, and went an impressive 5-2 this week. They swept the Marlins, went 2-1 against the Indians and now face Detroit. With Detroit on the decline, this could be their opportunity to be on the incline.
12. Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are a team like the Pirates, who are third in their division yet have a 31-28 record. They had an average week, going 4-4 including losing 1-3 to the Astros, going 2-1 against the Dodgers, and are now facing the Reds.
13. San Francisco Giants
The Giants have been on a slight decline. They are 30-27, and are second in the NL West, two games behind the Diamondbacks. Their week included going 1-3 against the Athletics, 1-2 against the Cardinals, and are now facing the Blue Jays. After their series with the Blue Jays they face divisional rival Diamondbacks, which is key if they want to take control over the NL West.
14. Detroit Tigers
The Tigers have made a drastic fall. They are still 31-25, but went 2-5 this past week. Their week included series’ losses to the Pirates and Orioles, and now face the Rays, which they won their first game of the series. If they don’t get their act together soon, the Indians (who are only one game back) will knock them out of their top spot in the AL Central.
15. Cleveland Indians
Like I said with the Tigers, the Indians are right on the heels of Detroit for the AL Central lead. At 30-28 they are just over .500, but their past week couldn’t even reach .500. they split their series with the Reds and lost their series to the Rays, and are now facing the Yankees. With New York also on the decline, this series could be their opportunity to take their division.
16. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies may be under .500, but they had a good week. They split their series with the Red Sox, won their series against the Brewers and are now facing Miami. They are in a tough division of the NL East but are currently in third only 7.5 games back. This means they are only half a game behind the Nationals for second. Their series against divisional rival Marlins will be key to knocking the Nats out of the second spot.
17. San Diego Padres
The Padres had a good week, including splitting their series with Seattle and then won their series against the Blue Jays. They are now facing the Dodgers, their rival I the NL West. They are in a tough divisio, but are only six games back and still have a chance. Especially now that they are playing the Dodgers, this will be key to dropping the number of games they are back in their division.
18. Minnesota Twins
The Twins week only included one loss, which is surprising for a team under .500. They swept the Brewers in four games and then won their series against the Mariners. They now face the struggling Royals, which could be a key series to keep their momentum going. Especially since they are only 4.5 games back in the race for the AL Central.
19. Washington Nationals
The Nationals are on a decline that I don’t think anyone saw coming. They are now sitting right at .500 at 29-29, and are seven games back in the NL East. The Phillies are also right on their tails, just half a game behind the Nats. A series against the Mets should hopefully help keep the Phillies from taking their spot in their division.
20. Seattle Mariners
Not much you can say about the Mariners week except that it was just average. They split their series with the Padres and then lost their series to the Twins. They now face the White Sox, who are very similar in production.
21. Los Angeles Angels
I thought the Angels were going to be on the rise since Trout has gotten so hot, but it doesn’t seem that way. They went 2-5 this past week going 2-2 against neighbor Dodgers and then getting swept by the Astros. They now face the Cubs, who are struggling just as much.
22. Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays are just stuck in the bottom of the AL East with nowhere to go. They went 2-2 against Atlanta, which isn’t necessarily bad but then lost their series to the Padres. They are still 11.5 games back, but with the remaining four teams being so competitive that won’t change anytime soon. Sorry Toronto fans.
23. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox had a horrible week. They went 0-6, including sweeps by the Cubs and the Athletics. They now face the Mariners, in a series in which they already lost game one. Not looking great for the White Sox this week. But hey, go Blackhawks.
24. Los Angeles Dodgers
After a series against the Angels we still don’t know who the best team in Los Angeles is. The series was split 2-2 and then the Dodgers lost their series to the Rockies. They now face the Padres, the two bottom teams in the NL West. Being only one and a half games behind the Padres this series could be the Dodgers’ chance to move up in their division.
25. Houston Astros
Wow, what a week for the Astros. Six wins, including going 3-1 against the Rockies and a three game sweep of the Angels. They now face the Orioles, who are on the rise and might put an end to the Astros winning streak.
26. New York Mets
The New York Mets stunned the world when they not only won the Subway Series against the Yankees, but swept the Yankees in four games. Only to turn around and get swept by the Marlins. They now face the Nationals, in which they lost game one of the series.
27. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs may have an under .500 season, but they had an over .500 week. Their week included sweeping the White Sox in three games and then losing 1-2 against the Diamondbacks. They currently face the Angels which will be a series of two equal teams.
28. Miami Marlins
You’re moving up Miami! They’re still at 16-42, and 19.5 games back in their division but had an impressive week for Miami standards. They were swept in four games by the Rays, only to turn around and sweep the Mets, a team who had just swept the Yankees. The Marlins are now facing the Phillies in which they lost the first two games of the series.
29. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are just having a rough time. They are 16.5 games back in the NL Central, and in a division with the Cardinals, Reds, and Pirates I don’t see that getting a lot better. The Brewers went 2-5 this week, including getting swept by the Twins, and then going 2-1 against the Phillies. They now face off with Athletics, but we know how that will probably go.
30. Kansas City Royals
The new bottom team in baseball belongs to the Royals. The Royals are 23-31, which isn’t impressive and neither was their past week. They went 1-3 against the Cardinals, 1-2 against the Rangers and are now facing the Twins. I was pulling for the Royals to be the underdog team this year, but I guess at 6.5 games back they still have a chance. We’re still early in the season.